4 weeks agoThe Los Angeles Rams have the impossible task of trying to replace the retired Aaron Donald this year, but it would be a big win if they were able to land UCLA edge rusher Laiatu Latu with the 19th overall pick in the first round of this year's NFL draft. The 6-foot-5, 259-pound former rugby standout was the nation's top lineman in 2023 after he led the FBS with 21.5 tackles for loss while also recording 13 sacks, 49 tackles, two interceptions and two forced fumbles. The 23-year-old emerged as a dominant player for the Bruins after a serious neck injury he suffered at Washington. He tested well at the scouting combine and has received rave reviews from coaches. "His arsenal of pass rush is legit. I started writing down the different ways he wins and I was getting up near eight, nine or 10. That's a lot!" one coach said.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Bruce Feldman
4 weeks agoThe Cincinnati Bengals' signing of Trent Brown this offseason diminishes their need to take an offensive lineman in the first round of this year's NFL draft, although it would still be tempting to go with either JC Latham or Olu Fashanu. The Athletic's Bruce Feldman thinks Cincy will go with Texas defensive tackle Byron Murphy II with the 18th overall pick in the first round later this month after losing D.J. Reader. T'Vondre Sweat has received more hype than Murphy from Texas, but opposing coaches say that Murphy gave them more headaches on game day. The 21-year-old has freaky athleticism and showed it at the scouting combine in February. "He was almost unblockable because he's so quick and twitchy and has balance like a big running back. He's been coached well. The guy is just really disruptive. He was much more of a problem (than T'Vondre Sweat)," one coach said.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Bruce Feldman
4 weeks agoThe Athletic's Bruce Feldman predicts that the Jacksonville Jaguars will trade the 17th overall pick in the first round of this year's NFL draft to the Minnesota Vikings, who will take Florida State edge rusher Jared Verse. The Vikings lost edge players Danielle Hunter, Marcus Davenport and D.J. Wonnum this winter but added Andrew Van Ginkel and Jonathan Greenard. Verse would bring a disruptive playing style along the defensive line after he made a smooth transition to Florida State from Albany. In two seasons with the Seminoles, the 23-year-old had 18 sacks, 29 tackles for loss and 88 tackles. "He's very physical. He gets after people in the run game. Has some mitts and uses those hands well. He's an explosive athlete and has good burst. Plays like he's always trying to prove he belongs in big-time football," one coach said.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Bruce Feldman
4 weeks agoCornerback Logan Ryan officially announced his retirement from professional football on his social-media account on Tuesday. "Thank you to all my family, friends and teammates for the guidance and support! Thanks to the fans for watching! Won two Super Bowls and got out happy and healthy to be the best father for my children! Thanks again for 11 seasons! Cheers to what's next," Ryan wrote. The 33-year-old spent 11 years in the league after the New England Patriots took him in the third round (83rd overall) in 2013 out of Rutgers. He played in just five games (two starts) with the San Francisco 49ers in 2023 and will finish his lengthy career with a total of 755 tackles (545 solo), 13 sacks, 20 tackles for loss, 26 QB hits, 19 interceptions (one returned for a TD), 98 passes defended, 15 forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries in 154 regular-season games (123 starts).
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Logan Ryan
4 weeks agoIt sounds as though the Philadelphia Eagles and Green Bay Packers will be facing off in Week 1 in Brazil based on comments that Packers president Mark Murphy made on Tuesday morning. "We're either the first- or second-most popular team in Brazil," Murphy said. The NFL continues to try and expand the game internationally and there will be a game in Brazil on Friday of the first week of the regular season this fall. The Eagles will be eager to get the bitter taste out of their mouth after falling apart late last year, including a dispiriting wild-card loss on the road to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Meanwhile, quarterback
Jordan Love and the Packers will look to keep things going after impressing in 2023 with a first-round playoff upset over the Dallas Cowboys.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com - Rob Demovsky
4 weeks agoFree-agent pass-rusher James Smith-Williams agreed to an undisclosed one-year deal with the Atlanta Falcons on Monday, according to his agent, Mike McCartney. The 26-year-old defensive end entered the league as a seventh-round pick (229th overall) by the Washington Commanders in 2020 out of North Carolina State and spent the first four years of his NFL career in D.C., racking up just 85 tackles (42 solo), seven sacks, 14 tackles for loss and 31 QB hits in 55 games played (27 starts). He had only 22 tackles (11 solo), one sack and eight QB hits for Washington in 13 games (seven starts) in 2023 and will provide interior defensive-line depth for the Falcons in 2024 behind the likes of Grady Jarrett, Ta'Quon Graham and Zach Harrison.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: FOX Sports - Greg Auman
4 weeks agoThe Athletic's Bruce Feldman believes that Washington offensive tackle Troy Fautanu would be a great fit for the Seattle Seahawks with pick No. 16 overall in the first round of this year's NFL draft. Fautanu can play tackle or guard at the next level, and the Seahawks need help all over their offensive line. The 6-foot-4, 317-pound offensive lineman could also reunite with his former offensive coordinator, Ryan Grubb, who is now in Seattle. Fautanu started 29 games at left tackle and two at guard for the Huskies and won the Pac-12's top lineman award in 2023. "He is a mauler, but he has good flexibility and agility. He's a tough dude, but sometimes gets himself out of position," one coach said.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Bruce Feldman
4 weeks agoThe Atlanta Falcons signed free-agent cornerback Kevin King to an undisclosed deal on Monday. King was originally a second-round selection (33rd overall) by the Green Bay Packers in the 2017 NFL draft out of Washington. He played all five of his NFL seasons with the Packers and has recorded a total of 197 tackles (158 solo), one sack, five tackles for loss, seven interceptions, 30 passes defended, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries in 51 games played (42 starts). King took the entire 2022 season off due to personal reasons and missed all of 2023 due to a torn Achilles that he suffered during an offseason workout. The 28-year-old will simply be looking to stay healthy in training camp this summer in order to win a 53-man roster spot and supply secondary depth for the Falcons.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: AtlantaFalcons.com - Terrin Waack
4 weeks agoThe San Francisco 49ers signed free-agent tight end
Eric Saubert to an undisclosed one-year deal on Monday. Saubert was initially drafted in the fifth round (174th overall) by the Atlanta Falcons in 2017 out of Drake. The 29-year-old spent the first two years of his NFL career in Atlanta before stops with the Chicago Bears, Jacksonville Jaguars, Denver Broncos, Dallas Cowboys and Houston Texans. He was with the Cowboys and Texans in 2023 and caught all three of his targets for 12 yards in 10 games (one start). Saubert has 36 career receptions on 55 targets for 292 yards and two touchdowns in 84 games (16 starts) in his seven NFL seasons. In San Francisco this year, Saubert will operate as tight end depth behind starter
George Kittle alongside
Brayden Willis,
Cameron Latu and
Jake Tonges.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: 49ers.com
4 weeks agoThe Seattle Seahawks signed exclusive-rights free-agent tight end
Brady Russell, defensive end Myles Adams, offensive guard McClendon Curtis, offensive tackle Raiqwon O'Neal and linebacker Joshua Onujiogu on Monday. The team also signed restricted free-agent cornerback Michael Jackson and linebacker Jon Rhattigan. Russell joined the Seahawks in 2023 as an undrafted free agent out of Colorado and played 308 snaps on special teams in 15 games played. He was only on the field for 17 offensive snaps for Seattle and wasn't targeted at all in his rookie season. The 25-year-old will most likely serve in a special teams role yet again in 2024 as he attempts to make the 53-man roster out of training camp this summer.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Seahawks.com - John Boyle
4 weeks agoIndianapolis Colts quarterback
Anthony Richardson (shoulder), who played in parts of just four games in his rookie season in 2023 before having season-ending shoulder surgery for an AC joint sprain in his right shoulder, is making roughly 40 throws per day in his recovery this offseason. He has thrown more than 200 passes in all just five months post-surgery. The 21-year-old former fourth overall pick is on a mission to get ready for his sophomore season and should be fully ready for Week 1 this fall. "I've never waited this long to get back to playing football," Richardson said. "I'm just on a mission this year. Once that mission's complete, then I'll be good." While Richardson has plenty to improve on as a passer, he has considerable QB1 upside in fantasy football because of his sure athletic ability and rushing prowess despite not having played a full season in the NFL.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com - Stephen Holder
4 weeks agoThe Indianapolis Colts need help at cornerback, which is why Alabama cornerback Terrion Arnold makes sense for them with the 15th overall pick in the first round of this year's NFL draft. Arnold emerged as a star for 'Bama in 2023 with five interceptions and 17 pass breakups. The 6-foot, 190-pounder is more athletic than teammate Kool-Aid McKinstry but only ran a 4.50-second 40-yard dash at the scouting combine in February. "Kept getting better and better. Texas A&M ran by him earlier in his career, but he really developed. He's a dawg, a three-position player — corner, nickel and safety," one coach said. Arnold is not likely to garner tons of attention if he's taken in the first round later this month, but he'd be a big upgrade for Indy's secondary.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Bruce Feldman
4 weeks agoNew Orleans Saints offensive tackle Trevor Penning, who was taken 19th overall in 2022, has struggled at tackle and has started only six games since he was drafted. It's why The Athletic's Bruce Feldman pegs the Saints to take Oregon State offensive tackle Taliese Fuaga with the 14th overall pick in this year's NFL draft. The 6-foot-6, 324-pounder played right tackle with the Beavers, but his coaches thought he was more than capable of playing on the other side and he could also end up being a dominant guard. "He's so physical and very explosive. He is a friggin' powerhouse. He really moves people in the run game. He's not super long, but he has quick feet and good awareness and balance. I thought he improved a lot last year, especially as a pass blocker," one coach said.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Bruce Feldman
4 weeks agoTexas defensive tackle T'Vondre Sweat was arrested early on Sunday morning and was charged with driving while intoxicated in Austin, Texas, according to a source. Sweat was viewed as a potential Day 2 pick in this year's NFL draft, but this incident could very well change that. The 22-year-old stands at 366 pounds and recorded 45 tackles and two sacks with the Longhorns in his final collegiate season in 2023. He's currently ranked as NFL.com's Bucky Brooks' fifth-best defensive tackle prospect after a strong final season at Texas. He's the brother of Philadelphia Eagles defensive lineman Josh Sweat.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Dane Brugler
4 weeks agoTexas wide receiver
Xavier Worthy, who ran the fastest 40-yard dash in the history of the NFL scouting combine in February at 4.21 seconds, is visiting with the Chicago Bears on Monday. The Bears have already traded for
Keenan Allen this offseason to pair with
DJ Moore in 2024, but they continue to look for additional offensive weapons for USC quarterback
Caleb Williams, who they are expected to take first overall in this year's NFL draft. Allen only has one year remaining on his current deal, so it would make sense for the Bears to add a receiver in the draft to pair with Williams if they are unsure if they can sign Allen to a contract extension. The 20-year-old Worthy is obviously a burner and will create problems for opposing defenses with his speed, but his small frame of 165 pounds makes him a big injury risk at the next level.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN - Adam Schefter
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